hamner



L. R. HAIVINER.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21. 1916.

Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY LLOYD R. HAMNER, OF GAINES, WEST VIRGINIA.

MAIL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

Application filed November 21, 1916. Serial No. 132,685.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LLoYn R. HAMNER, a citizen of the United States, residin at Gaines, in the-county of Upshur and tate of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Mail-Boxes, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a letter or mail box and it aims to provide an improved signaling means therefor which is movable to signaling position upon opening of the closure member of the box to avoid the necessity of operating a signal independently of the box, and a signal which Wlll remain in signaling position until manually moved out of such position regardless of subsequent operations of the said closure.

The above and additional objects, such as will hereinafter appear, I attain by the construction'illustrated in accompanyin draw ings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mail box constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the closure opened and the signal in signaling position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar toFig. 1 but with the closure member closed and with the signal out of signaling'position, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, a suitable box or receptacle is provided at 4 having an opening at one end which is normally closed by means of a closure 5 of any suitable construction, but in this instance being preferably provided with shields 6 at the sides thereof. Said closure is pivoted to the box by means of a rod at 7.

A suitable signal 8 is employed which is adapted to serve as a signal to the postman that mail matter is within the box for collection, when the signal is in a vertical position. This signal has a staff or arm 9- pivoted at 10 to one side wall of the box and has a rivet or bolt 11 extending through its lower end and also through an elongated arcuate slot 12 provided in one side wall of the box. Within the box, said pivot or bolt 11 also extends through an elongated slot 13 provided in a link 14 which is pivoted to one of the shields 6 as at 15.

Normally the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2 where the closure 5 is closed and the si al 8 is lowered. When it is desired to eposit mail within the box, the closure 5 is pulled outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1, and by this pperation the link 14 is drawn forward, thus causing the rear end of the slot 13 to engage with the lug 11, and raise the signal means to a vertical position as shown in Fig. 1. This is the position in which the signal functions to apprise the postman that matter is within the box for collection. After depositing the mail matter within the box closure 5 may be closed or restored to the normal position and in moving to this position, due to the elongation of slot 13, link 14 will not move the staff 9 and therefore the signal will remain in signaling position. The closure member can be freely operated also without disturbing the position of the signal until the signal is manually lowered to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the link 14 will shift it upon the opening of the closure 5 as previously described.

Since merely the preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a deposit and-collection receptacle, a closure, a signal pivotally supported on the receptacle, said receptacle having an arcuate slo't, a lug on said signal extending through said slot, inclosed means engaging said lug adapted to shift the signal upon movement of the closure in one direction, and said means being provided with a slot to permit movement of the closure in the other direction without actuating the said signal.

2. In a deposit and collection receptacle, a closure, a link pivoted to the closure and disposed within the receptacle, said link having an elongated slot, the receptacle having an elongated slot, a signal pivoted exteriorly of said receptacle, a lug extending through said signal and elongated slots.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LLOYD R. HAMNER.

Witnesses:

WM. YOUNG, P. P. FISHER. 

